The transition of graduates from universities to the workplace 1

The development and assessment of core skills and competencies in education has received a great deal of recent attention (O'Neil, 1997). In Australia there have been a number of influential reports addressing the question of core skills and competencies needed for effective workplace participation in the learning society (Finn Report, 1991; Mayer Report, 1992). In the Mayer Report, seven key competencies were identified:

collecting, analysing and organizing information;

communicating ideas and information;

planning and organizing activities;

working with others and in teams;

using mathematical ideas and techniques;

solving problems;

using technology.